Equine Canada Western Coaching
Program Level II

CLICK HERE for a Western Coach 2 Information Package

 The objectives of the National Coaching  Certification Program at both provincial and national levels are:

 .           promote an infrastructure allowing coaches  to improve inside an approved system.

.           improve  riding coaches  performance and skills.

.           ensure the practice of the equestrian sport accessible to everyone under the supervision of certified  coaches.

.           insure the development and recruitment of elite athletes by seasoned coaches.

This program is designed to recognize coaches capable of teaching intermediate riders preparing for competition.

COACHING  LEVELS *

 

Instructor	Capable of teaching rider levels 1 to 2
Level 1	Capable of teaching rider levels 1 to 4 & introduce competition
Level 2	Capable of teaching intermediate riders at provincial level
Level 3	Specialization in a discipline at the national level
Level 4	Specialization in a discipline at the international level
Level 5	Specialization in a discipline at the international level (Olympic discipline)

* Instructor and Levels 1, 2 and 3 are currently available.

Western Coach 2 PROGRAM

 

PREREQUISITES

Candidates must have completed the following prerequisites prior to applying for the Coach 2 Assessment :

1)     Current AEF Membership

2)     Current Equine Canada Competitive Sport  License

3)     Intermediate Rider Program (General + Specialization Components)

4)     Proof of competitive experience

5)     Proof of training experience

6)     Proof of coaching experience

7)     Current First Aid Certificate

8)     NCCP Multi-Sport Module “B”

9)     Signed EC Coaching Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct (if not completed for Coach 1)

10) Completed Western Coach 2 Mentor Program

11) Criminal Record Search

 

SPECIALIZATIONS

The candidate may choose one or more of the three following specializations: Reining, General Performance or Speed Events. In order to be eligible, candidates are required to pass the EC Intermediate General Component certificate and the Intermediate Riders exams related to the candidate's specialization. Those specializations are as follows:

 

REINING                               GENERAL                        SPEED EVENTS                                          PERFORMANCE                   Reining                              Showmanship                      Barrel racing                                             Horsemanship                     Pole bending                                          Western Pleasure                                                    Trail

 

ELIGIBILITY

.           be at least 20 years old
.           be an active member of Equine Canada and the AEF
.           have obtained their EC Western Coach Level 1 Certificate
.           have at least two years coaching experience
.           have completed the EC Western Intermediate General Component along with all the disciplines of the intermediate rider program         related to their specialization (General Performance, Speed Events, Reining).
.           hold a current First Aid Certificate
.           have completed the NCCP Multi-Sport Module “B”
.                       Supply a summary** of their competition experience in one or many of the following fields:
           -Preparing riders for competition
           -Preparing horses for competition
           -Any personal competition experience.

**Summary must include following information:
-Rider's name, horse's name, name and date of the competition
-competition level (regional,provincial,national)
-event, number of participants, standing

.      present a training plan of both horse and rider for one competition season, in accordance with the level two theory course. This plan has to be submitted 30 days prior to the exam to the AEF.

Once you have completed all of the above prerequisites, and you are ready to submit an application for an Assessment, contact the office at 403-253-4411, toll free at 877-463-6233 or email coaching@albertaequestrian.com.

Full registration refunds will be provided for written cancellations received prior to 30-days before the Assessment; a 25% administration fee will be applied to refunds requested after that date, however, NO REFUNDS will be granted less than 14-days prior to the date of the Assessment or for no-shows.  The AEF reserves the right to cancel session(s) due to unforeseen circumstances or insufficient advance registration.  The AEF cannot accept responsibility for expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation of an Assessment.           

 

PRACTICAL COACHING ASSESSMENT OUTLINE

The EC Intermediate Rider Course Manual, EC Level 2 Western Coaching  Manual and the EC Stable Management in Canada Manual are essential reference tools for the candidate' s preparation.

For each of the fields to which the candidate is registered, it is the candidate’s responsibility to have:

.           a student able to render a presentation in the evaluated field. Possibility of more than one student if registered to more than one field of specializatioin.
.           a horse trained to the  level corresponding to the requirements of evaluated field
.           the necessary equipment for rider and horse's preparation

For each of the fields presented by candidate, the evaluation relies on the four following elements:
.           horse's evaluation
.           coaching a student
.           correcting a performance problem of either horse and/or rider
.           oral exam

1.         Horse's evaluation

The candidate mounts and demonstrates the qualities and points to be improved by the horse used by his student in the presentation (the analysis of the horse's confirmation will take place in halter on the ground). The candidate must present all maneuvers used in the pattern. The warm-up may be ridden in two-hands, but once warmed up, the coach must demonstrate the movements in one-hand.  A discussion between examiners and the candidate on this analysis will follow ( +/- 10 minutes and +/- 20 minutes for reining).

Evaluated items:
-warm up
-appropriate work
-effectiveness of candidate as a rider
-quality of horse's analysis by the candidate
-communication skills of candidate with examiners

2.         Coaching a student

The candidate prepares their student for their presentation ( 10-15 min. coaching, review of the course and difficulties encountered, practice of part of the course and of complete course). The student must proceed to a demonstration of the discipline, candidate must analyze the student's performance.  The candidate coach must prepare their student to ride in a competition, watch the student run through the pattern(s), evaluate the student's performance and give comments to the student on their performance, what to work on, etc.

Evaluated items:
-candidate's voice
-enthusiasm
-lesson structure
-ability to recognize mistakes

3.         Correction of a problem on horse and/or student performance

After analysis of student and horse performance in the presentation, the examiners will ask the candidate to give certain adjustments to student and/or horse. Demonstration of this must reach aimed objectives.

Evaluated items :
-voice
-enthusiasm
-message transfer ability
-use of acceptable training techniques
-effectiveness

4.         Oral exam

A meeting between candidate and examiners permits the evaluation of his knowledge in the field of stable management (feeding, shoeing, defects and lameness, etc.).  Usually a minimum of 10 questions are asked.

If same horse is used in the presentations of two consecutive fields requiring considerable physical efforts ( ex: barrels and pole bending), the examiners will allow a 30 minutes recovery period for the horse between the two disciplines.

RESULTS

The candidate is informed of their results on the same day and will be given a summary of the exam.  In order to pass the exam, the candidate must meet the minimum standards for each portion of the exam.

When a candidate does not meet a minimum standard for one or more portions, they are required retake and pass the exam to obtain certification.  The second exam should take place within three years of the first one.  If a candidate does not present to another Assessment within that time frame, they must redo the Mentor Program again before presenting.

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Dress code

The candidate must report with proper clothes, in accordance with the requirements of western riding ( including boots and hat )

Equipment

Grooming kit, Halter, lead rope (with or without chain)
Boots and exercise bandages
Saddle blanket, underblanket, saddle, Bridle
Paper and pen
Tack must be clean, well adjusted and in good order. It has to be in accordance with the western rule book of Equine Canada, according to each discipline.

Horse

Horses used for evaluation must be in good shape, clean and well presented. It's the responsability of each candidate to make sure they have access to a horse able to meet the requirements of the evaluation.  The candidate can bring his own horse or rent one.

REGISTRATION

Each registration must be received at the AEF at least 10 days before date set  for the event.

*Do not forget to supply the summary of your experience in competition.

CLICK HERE for a Western Coach 2 Information Package